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Merkorios | |
---|---|
Patriarch and Catholicos of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church | |
Native name | አቡነ መርቆሬዎስ |
Church | Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church |
Appointed | 1988 |
Term ended | 2022 |
Predecessor | Abuna Takla Haymanot |
Successor | Abuna Paulos (5th) Abune Mathias (6th) |
Orders | |
Consecration | Holy Trinity Cathedral |
Personal details | |
Born | Ze-Libanos Fanta 14 June 1938 |
Died | 3 March 2022 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | (aged 83)
Nationality | Ethiopian |
Denomination | Oriental Orthodox |
Residence | Addis Ababa |
Abune Merkorios (born Ze-Libanos Fanta; 14 June 1938 – 3 March 2022[1]) was an Ethiopian bishop and the fourth Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, elected after the death of Abuna Takla Haymanot in May 1988. Merkorios remained Patriarch for three years until 1991, when the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) overthrew the Communist military junta known as Derg in Addis Ababa.[2][3] After spending almost three decades living in exile, he was allowed to return to Addis Ababa and be recognized as Patriarch alongside Abune Mathias.[4]